MEMORIAL TEARS!

I grieve for me beside your grave

I want to give one last farewell

There are so many little things

That I just long to tell.

So if from heaven's portal gate

You're given one more fleeting glance

To look upon my lonely heart

Please give me one more chance.

Remember when we pledged our troth

When virgin love burst forth in bloom?

Our hearts began to beat as one

Each evening, morning, noon.

Then hand-in-hand we walked life's road

We built our castle strong and true

Where happy children learned to grow

And trust our blessed Savior, too.

Then time began to speed its course

The nest was empty once again

We used our gifts to serve the Lord

For He had promised great reward.

But since you left my aching heart

Your touch of love is felt no more

So I must tread life all alone

Until we meet on yonder Shore.

So tell me dearest, if you can

Since there's a mansion just for you

Could I stop by your open door

For just a glance or two?

Life's comfort would sustain me then

While you wait there for me

And when death's angel calls me Home

We'll share eternity.

B. Pent

THE SOLDIER'S PLEDGE

The Soldier stood before the Captain of the Guard 
His comrades fought and died to keep our Nation free
The battlefield was marked by stains of blood from war 
Now only memories follow those still left on shore! 

Their graves are marked with epitaphs on marbled stone 
And every year the tears still fall in silent groans 
The Purple Heart was theirs, not ours to hold with pride 
They are the heroes in the grave who fought and died! 

The Captain of the Guard then spoke in accent clear: 
“Where did you go when bugle called to face the foe?” 
The soldier, trembling answered, that he ran away 
He was afraid of fatal wounds or scars that day. 

Just then there flashed across the Eastern sky, a Cross! 
The scars of battle could be seen on hands and side 
The Captain bore those wounds in love for you and me 
So through His death enslaved mankind could be set free.

We are the soldiers that are called to fight the Foe 
It is for each to use the Sword while here below 
The question that disturbs and moves my heart by far 
Is what we'll tell Him if we have no wound or scar
Ben Pent

HARD TO LET GO

THE TIME HAS COME TO BID FAREWELL
TO SAY ONCE MORE I MISS YOU SO
IT IS NOT EASY THROUGH THESE TEARS
TO SHAKE THE THOUGHTS OF BYGONE YEARS.

IT SEEMS LIKE ONLY YESTERDAY
WE WALKED AND TALKED ALONG LIFE’S PATH
BUT LIKE A CLOUDY MIST THAT FORMS
SOON SPIRITS FLY ABOVE EARTH’S STORMS.

WHY DOES THIS STING OF DEATH CAUSE PAIN
WHILE BROKEN HEARTS SEEK JOY IN VAIN?
IT IS THE CURSE WHERE SIN TOOK PLACE
WHICH CALVARY’S BLOOD CAN NOW ERASE.

BUT TIME SO QUICKLY PASSED AWAY
I FAILED TO NOTE THE YEARS GONE BY
SO WHEN YOUR FLIGHT FROM EARTH TOOK PLACE
I LONGED TO SHARE ONE LAST EMBRACE.

NOW MEMRY’S ALL I HAVE TO HOLD
IT IS THE LIGHT THAT MARKS MY PATH
BUT WHEN WE MEET ON HEAVEN’S SHORE
TOGETHER WE WILL PART NO MORE.

BEN PENT

LONELY VALLEYS

Lonely the valley where sorrows reside

Emptiness lingers with darkness inside

Light that once shone from the heaven's above

Leave only phantoms once flowing with love.

Where is the joy that once brightened my day

Who is the thief that has painted life gray?

Silence and sadness have torn it apart 

No one can fathom the grief in my heart!

Distractions in time are so often a pain

Vacations and parties are transient and vain 

The promise is given and vict'ry is won

 When faith reaches up to the God three in One

.

Jesus has borne all our grief and its loss

There is no burden His love cannot cross

Take up His yoke that is easy to bear

Resting in Him will remove all your care.
B. Pent

SWEET DREAMS

THE NIGHT WAS BLACK WITHOUT A STAR
THE WINDS WERE CALM IN NEED OF REST
A GENTLE BREEZE THAT TOUCHED MY SLEEP
AWAKENED THOUGHTS WITHIN MY BREAST.

THE PHANTOM DREAM THAT PASSED MY WAY
LIKE DANCING MAIDENS BY THE SHORE
WERE LIVING MEMORIES OF THE PAST
I COULD NOT TOUCH THEM ANYMORE!

BUT THEN A SHADOW COULD BE SEEN
PROPELLED BY OCEAN'S CRASHING WAVES
IT SEEMED TO BLOW RIGHT THROUGH MY MIND
BUT LEFT ME LONELY AND AMAZED

THEN SUD'NLY LIKE A PROMISE MADE
THE SCENT OF PERFUME FRESH AND SWEET
BLEW THROUGH THE WINDOW OF MY SOUL
WHERE HEART TO HEART TRUE LOVERS MEET.
Ben Pent

IN THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS

Lingering in the shadow
Standing on Golgotha's street
I catch sight along a hillside
Of a skull whose gaze I meet.

Voices seem to echo
From the hallow of its lair
Cries of bitter accusation
Poisoning words hang everywhere.

Peace from Pax Romana
Is the empty promise made
Clanging armor is the vise-grip
That rebellion often paid.

Crowds begin to gather
As the shadow passes by
Seems the bloody figure walking
Is condemned to hang and die!

Via Delarosa!
Crosses often pass that way
Carried by some guilty sinner
Blood-stained prints are seen by day.

Terrifying anguish
As the spikes pierce hands and feet
Soldiers hoisting up the cross-bars
Hear the tear of bone and meat.

Then a Voice speaks clearly
With the Gift of saving Grace
"Father grant complete forgiveness
Through My blood to Adam's race."

I alone am standing
Tears keep falling from my eyes
Death and hell the load I carry
Jesus ransom is the prize!

"Take my sin, dear Savior 
Nail it to that cursed Tree
Come and rule my heart Lord Jesus
By Your Spirit set me free!"

I am His forever
Heaven's Gates are open wide
All who call on Jesus' name
Through His blood, are Justified!
B.Pent

THE OLD OAK TREE

I look out my window

And see the oak tree

So strong and unbending

Deep rooted and free.

The winds of Northeaster

That blew in the Fall

Have stolen the beauty

Few leaves left at all!

The snow now has covered

The ground where it stands

Yet branches reach outward

With uplifted hands.

I see a leaf clinging

So cold and alone

Still wanting a reason

For staying so long.

The sun seems to whisper

That soon Spring will come

The warmth will awaken

A new day begun.

The sap is all ready

To flow through the trees

The summer is calling

“Come shade us with leaves!”

--B. Pent